Sunil Deshmukh
| Dr. Sunil Deshmukh | |
|---|---|
 | |
| At the Maharashtra State Budget presentation | |
| MLA | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 19th October 2014 | |
| Constituency | Amravati |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 May 1958 Amravati, Maharashtra, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Political party | Bhartiya Janata Party |
| Spouse(s) | Dr. Sonali Deshmukh |
| Children | Satyajeet and Yashovardhan |
| Residence | Amravati |
| Alma mater | Government Medical College, Nagpur |
| Occupation | Doctor |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Dr. Sunil Panjabrao Deshmukh (born 28 May 1958) is the Member of Legislative Assembly from the constituency of Amravati, Maharashtra, India. He belonged to the Indian National Congress (INC) which he quit in 2009 when he did not get a ticket. He was also the Minister of State for Finance and Planning, Public Works and Energy in the cabinet of the Government of Maharashtra(2004-2009). He was also the guardian minister for Amravati and Bhandara Districts of Vidarbha, Maharashtra from 2004-2009. Additionally, he also served as the ex-officio Vice-Chairman of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board's holding company and as the co-chairman of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Ltd.
From October 2004 to December 2008, he held the portfolios for Water Resources, Command Area Development and Parliamentary Affairs in addition to Finance and Planning in former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's cabinet. He was also the Vice-Chairman of the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation Ltd. from 1999 to 2004.
He is a formerly practicing Radiologist. He completed his MBBS from the Government Medical College, Nagpur in 1981. From the same institution, he completed his M.D. (Radiology) in 1986.
He has been elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly thrice from the constituency of Amravati. The first two times, he defeated his nearest contestant, Jagdish Motilal Gupta of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by about 10,000 votes and about 32,000 votes respectively. The third time, he defeated Raosaheb Shekhawat of the Indian National Congress by a margin of 35,072 votes.
He is widely credited with changing the face of modern Amravati. It is due to his efforts that a number of important projects were implemented for the betterment of the constituency. These include the Integrated Road Development Project (IRDP), the construction of a Superspecialty Hospital in the city and sanctioning of a Five-Star MIDC and the introduction of the Advantage Amravati plan, due to which Amravati has attracted considerable industrial and commercial investments. Besides, he has also worked for the upliftment of the backward classes and slum dwellers by bringing the Gharkul Yojana to Amravati, which provided concrete houses to such people for merely Rs. 100. Official figures state that nearly 20,000 such houses have been constructed in Amravati.
Ongoing projects under him include the construction of a state-of-the-art Amravati Airport and the sanctioning of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) near Amravati, so as to attract industries and generate employment opportunities.
Elected Offices Held
Member of Legislative Assembly - Amravati Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 1999 - 2004
Member of Legislative Assembly - Amravati Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 2004 - 2009
Member of Legislative Assembly - Amravati Vidhan Sabha Constituency - 2014 - Present
Positions Served
Chairman, Nagpur University Students Council
President, Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress
State General Secretary, NSUI
Joint Secretary, All India Youth Congress
Minister of State (MoS) in the Government of Maharashtra from 2004 - 2009
Held critical portfolios including Finance and Planning, Water Resources, Command Area Development and Parliamentary Affairs in Shri. Vilasrao Deshmukh's cabinet
Held critical portfolios including Finance and Planning, Energy, Public Works in Shri. Ashok Chavan's cabinet
Served as the Guardian Minister for Amravati and Bhandara Districts
Vice-Chairman of Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC)
Vice-Chairman of Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB)
Co-chairman of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC)
Vidhan Sabha Elections, 1999
After being appointed as the President of Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress, Dr. Deshmukh revived and strengthened Congress in Amravati by introducing several new and youthful faces. As a fruit of his hard labour, the party put its faith in him for contesting the Assembly polls against BJP’s sitting Guardian Minister, Mr Jagdish Gupta. Dr. Deshmukh won the polls by almost 10,000 votes and wrested back the constituency to Congress fold.
Vidhan Sabha Elections, 2004
From 1999 to 2004, Dr. Deshmukh undertook developmental works of nearly Rs. 300 crores in his constituency. The people of Amravati gave Congress a massive mandate in 2004 Assembly polls and reelected him with a thumping margin of 32,263 votes against the same BJP rival whom he had defeated in 1999 polls.
Vidhan Sabha Elections, 2009
In the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) elections of 2009 Dr.Deshmukh had to rebel against his party The Indian National Congress. Despite being a sitting member from Amravati for last 2 terms & also undertaking slew of projects to change the face of Amravati his claim for the Amravati seat was overlooked in favour of Mr.Raosaheb Shekhavat by Congress Party. Mr.Shekhavat is the only son of Former President of India Ms.Prathiba Patil. It is alleged that Raosaheb got the ticket at behest of Rashtrapati Bhavan which lobbied strongly for his candidature. Dr.Deshmukh was offered a ticket from neighboring Achalpur constituency which he refused saying he cannot seek a mandate from constituency where he has not worked.He was also reportedly offered a Cabinet Ministry & membership of Legislative Council if he withdrew from race as a rebel. However Dr.Deshmukh refused to withdraw from fray terming this as a fight between 'an ordinary man of Amravati' vs combined might of 'Rashtrapati Bhavan',state machinery & the Indian National Congress. In a very close contest Dr.Deshmukh polled 55,717 votes against 61,331 votes polled by Mr.Shekhavat & lost narrowly. This valiant fight will be remembered for a long time.
Janvikas Congress Party and Amravati Municipal Corporation election, 2012
Having been expelled from the Indian National Congress due to his rebellion in the Vidhan Sabha election, 2009, Dr. Deshmukh formed his own political party called Janvikas Congress Party in December 2011. This was done keeping in mind the Amravati Municipal Corporation elections which were conducted in February 2012. All traditional supporters of Dr. Sunil Deshmukh including three former mayors joined this party. Janvikas Congress won 7 seats in the Amravati Municipal Corporation election.
Vidhan Sabha Elections, 2014
In the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha Elections which were held on 15th October, 2014, Dr. Deshmukh contested from Amravati constituency on a Bhartiya Janata Party ticket. Nitin Gadkari was reportedly very keen to make Dr. Deshmukh the BJP candidate from Amravati. On September 26th, 2014, Dr. Deshmukh officially joined BJP in the presence of Nitin Gadkari in Nagpur and filled his nomination from Amravati Vidhan Sabha constituency the next day. He defeated Mr.Raosaheb Shekhawat, the son of Ex-President of India, Smt. Pratibha Patil by a handsome margin of 35072 votes. Dr. Deshmukh polled 84033 votes while Mr. Shekhawat had to settle on 48961 votes.
Sources
Profile on MSEDCL's website
Official Bio of Maharahtra Finance Ministry's website
Official info on Government of Maharashtra's public portal
Management profile of MSPGCL
Management profile of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC)
Management profile of Department of Public Works, Government of Maharashtra